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in reply to a message by Mike C
Gandalf is Old Norse, though the Old English form would have been almost identical. In the Old Norse epic the Poetic Edda there is a dwarf named Gandalf, apparently Tolkien's influence for the name of his wizard. Several other character names from the Hobbit were taken from the Prose Edda.
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Yes this is correct. Not only several dwarf names, all of them.
Actually, GandalfR was also a dwarf, Gandr is old norse for staff or stick ( wand )and this makes sense. I am sure that Tolkien was quite aware of this.
Actually, GandalfR was also a dwarf, Gandr is old norse for staff or stick ( wand )and this makes sense. I am sure that Tolkien was quite aware of this.
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Gandalf was the last king of the AlfR-clan which ruled over Alfheim, what is now the westcoast of Sweden. His sons were killed by Halvdan the Black, and later Gandalf was killed by the same person.
A note upon this king of small power can be found in the poetic Edda, where he is said to be a dwarf, i e with small power. You can learn more about the original Gandalf from "The Saga of Halvdan the Black".
I am sure that Tolkien had this priest-king in mind.
A note upon this king of small power can be found in the poetic Edda, where he is said to be a dwarf, i e with small power. You can learn more about the original Gandalf from "The Saga of Halvdan the Black".
I am sure that Tolkien had this priest-king in mind.
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Hi
I always thought that the name gandalf was meant as a sort of joke from tolkein concerning a famous footballer of the time - 'Alf Gand'. I think this is why psueds insist the name be pronounced Gand-Alf not gandalf.
would love to know if it is true
smokey
I always thought that the name gandalf was meant as a sort of joke from tolkein concerning a famous footballer of the time - 'Alf Gand'. I think this is why psueds insist the name be pronounced Gand-Alf not gandalf.
would love to know if it is true
smokey
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